Fashion Design: a delayed choice
Interestingly, somewhere in between her confusion, design popped up. This was funny, as even at School, she was never an Artsy person, and she had to take this new path even more seriously, as she needed to prove to her parents that she was serious. And so, she went off to Namibia to study Fashion Design. In true Mokaila style, well that didn’t last. “It was not what I was looking for,” she explains.
She wanted to learn more about the Fashion and Design business, and the course was not doing that. “It was too slow for me,” she explains.
She explains that she wanted to learn patterns, trend forecasts, and be a self- sufficient designer. That gamble worked. She went on to be admitted at the LISOF Design College in Johannesburg, which was the right fit for her. She completed the rigorous 3 year Degree, where she graduated with a BA in Fashion Design. During her stay in SA, she had plenty of opportunities such as working at Fashion showcase events such as the 2015 SA Fashion Week, and the 2015 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week alongside legends in Fashion.
One thing that stood out for her during that period was how she was surrounded by designers who were not only focusing on the design aspect of the business, but were also photographers, make- up artists, to mention a few.
She returned to Botswana because of Visa issues. It was then that she started her own company after failing to secure a mentorship with a number of local designers.
“Some designers are not willing to help upcoming designers. I had one or two who were willing to assist,” she notes.
She shares how outside school, she amassed all of the knowledge and skills that she has today.
“I equipped myself with everything that I could learn,” says Mokaila.
Just before Covid- 19 covered the world in darkness, she applied for a Youth Grant which she clinched. She has since managed to put together a creative team, which has been very helpful. The team conceptualises photo shoots and themes, and brings them to life as well as create content. This has been a stroke of luck for Mokaila and she has done exceptionally well.
What does her future look like, she discloses that she is looking out for collaborations, and is not one to sit still for long. She wants to build herself, and expand her portfolio. Right now, she is working on her Winter/ Autumn collection. Her style veers more towards street style, as well as other trends. The upcoming line is inspired by her love for colours, and expression.